'Higher than we've seen in 6 decades': Why is the Withlacoochee River still rising

We've seen Hurricane Milton's devastation: from roads nearly submerged in water to roads being closed, but for people who live along the Withlacoochee River, their problems are just beginning.

[timchamberlin]

This is the result of filling in wetlands and building on them. Local city councils are responsible for much of this.

[bbrcummins]

It all starts in the Green Swamp and flows north, the native Americans named it Little Big Water, AKA Withlacoochee 😊

[harrybaulz]

He didnt answer the question why its rising

[sidvicious]

I can only imagine the gators are Everywhere at this point !

[taylor]

I feel so sorry for the woman at the beginning. It must be rough to still be at crisis level. I hope there are lots of sunny days in the forecast for them

[GreySky-sm]

Massive rain fell in the state. And water has to drain somewhere…. Looks like this town is on the path of the drainage.

[dad]

Wow.
I did not know the water levels could continue to rise like that.
That sucks big-time.

[BufordTJustice]

It means that area is lower, receiving water as it drains from higher areas. Takes weeks for the saturated state to drain to the southwest corner of the state.

[a_lethe_ion]

Because the whole water collects in the rivers and then slowly drains into the sea.
Ground saturated also makes it harder for the water to leave.


Land isn't fully flat either, so the water that got into the higher areas is going into the ground and moving downwards, lifting the ground water table and then coalesce into the rivers that rise

[j.w.r]

Experts for days have been warning about the backlash of draining water.
Here in New Orleans, every spring it rises depending on the snowmelt.

[YouMakeItHappen]

Unfortunately, i dont think the expert really explained why the river keeps rising. ...

Basically a river is fed my thousands of smaller streams which are fed by the rainfall in a larger area. It takes time (days or weeks) for all that water to flow downhill into the river thus causing a little surge/rise in the water level.

[DN-rgnj]

Add heat, humidity, and mosquitoes to an already miserable experience.

[patriciakeanini]

Prayers for Florida residents going through all this DISASTER 🙏🙏🙏

[UncleDavesKitchen]

Crazy that the flood waters continue for weeks draining off the water left by the storm. I'd be concerned by sinkholes and wildlife along with the infection possible from wading in the water. so sorry, I hope people can get out of there for now till the water resides. I drove from Tampa to Georgia last Sunday before Milton and am still staying in a hotel for another week or two before returning.

[lmb]

I remember canoeing the Withlacoochee River in the 70’s with a group of my U of Florida Pharmacy class….what a great memory

[KatA-pv]

Doesn't matter how high that vehicle is, they can't see what's under that water. So dangerous.

[giancarlopellizzari]

These people were lied to when they got their plots to build homes. They are entitled to compensation by the developers and the government. Developers shouldn't have sold in unsuitable areas. The government shouldn't have given their permits. It's a scam up and down.

[SandcastleDreams]

Withlacoochi is a big, twisting river and we didn't get much on rainfall up here in Marion County 7.5" but that's still a lot since we are uphill from that area.

[shortattentionspangarage]

That river starts being fed by Green Swamp, where over a foot of rain fell over many square miles. Yea, that river's not done rising.

[mechislander]

Meanwhile the story Withmycoochie is that it's bone dry.